firnstein



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. A. FIRNSTE-IN.

PORTABLE GATAFALQUE AND BIER COMBINED.

No. 352,915. Patented Nov. 23, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phuln'Lflhogrzpher, Wufinglnn. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented Nov: 23,1886. Jay-4.

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G. A. FIRNSTEIN. PORTABLE GATAPALQUE AND BIER COMBINED.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. FIR-NSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE CATAFALQUE A'ND BIER COMBINED.

SPECIFICATION forming part bf Letters Patent No. 352,915, dated November 23, 1886.

' Application filed July 21, 1886. Serial No. 208,605. (No model.) v

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. FIRNsTEIN, a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improved Portable Catafalque and Bier Combined, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of my improved structure, showing it as a datafalque. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same, showing it folded together for use as a bier. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same as a bier. Fig. 5is a cross-section of the same as a bier, showing a coffin on it.

This invention has for its object to supply Catholic churches with movable catafaYques which can be conveniently put out of the way when not required, and which, when desired, may also serve the purpose of biers.

In Catholic churches, especially when the requiem masses occur, it is an essential part of the service that a catafalque be exposed to view, said catafalque'being the representation of a coffin on a bier or other support. On other occasions this catafalque is not required, but must be kept out ofsight, taking up considerable'room. Again, every such church is provided with a bier upon which coffins in cases of funerals are supported.

My invention, by combining a table-like structure with folding pieces which can be erected into the shape of a coffin on said structure, enables me to dispense with the separate bier, and also to fold the imitation coflin into the table, leaving the latter free to be used for any ordinary purpose.

Another advantage of my invention is that the catafalque, though strong, is sufficiently light for a single person to manage, whereas the old style required at least two persons.

In the-accompanying drawings, the letter A represents the rectangular frame of my im' provedstructure, the same being supported on four legs, B, which are screwed into said frame at or near the corners thereof, and which are detachable for the purpose of allowing the whole structure to be packed away in a closet When not needed. v

The open frame A has hinged to its long inner edges two sets of jointed plates or boards, C C, each of which is preferably composed of three sections, a b d, that are hinged together. To the short ends of the frame A are hinged at e the cross pieces or boards D D. When these cross pieces or boards D D are folded up into a vertical position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and the jointed side pieces, C C, then folded over them and connected thereto by hooks f f, the whole structure will appear to represent a coffin on a table or bier,and-Will therefore be what is knownas a catafalque, convenient for use in Catholic churches during requiem masses, &c.

When the structure isnot to be used as a catafalque, the parts C and D are folded together, as in Figs. 3, 4, and 5-that is to say,

the end boards, D D, are folded down, so that they rest on suitable supports, 9, which are provided for that purpose in the frame A, and

the jointed boards C C are then folded to gether, as in Figs. 3 and 5, in such fashion that the lower sections, a a, of them will come flush with the top of the frame A. In this condition the article will constitute a table, as

in Fig. 3, the boards D being belowthe folded boards C. t

The frame A has suitable supports,- h, for the folding pieces C to rest upon when the parts are in the condition shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The legs B have, by preference, detachable lower end pieces, '5 i, which are screwed to the low the end pieces, D, to be concealed beneath the contracted sections a b d of the side pieces,- as specified. M

GEORGE A. FIRNSTEIN. Witnesses:

GHARL'Es G. M. THOMAS, HARRY M. TURK. 

